Copenhagen/Ilulissat, Greenland - The five states bordering the Arctic on Wednesday deliberated how to abide by international rules to avert conflicts over the potential oil and other riches in the region that will open up in the wake of global warming.

Norway, the United States, Canada and Russia attended the meeting along with Denmark and self-governing Greenland.

Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller told news agency Ritzau he expected that "the struggle for the North Pole that is talked about so much, will be solved within the framework of the United Nations."

"Until it is decided who owns what, we have a joint responsibility in case of a shipping accident," Moller added, noting the ice-bergs near the conference venue at Ilulissat, western Greenland.

The melting of the Arctic polar cap allows for new potential shipping routes and also opens up new areas for exploration of what is believed to be rich finds of oil and gas and other minerals.

Increased shipping could also increase the risk for accidents while exploration and drilling could result in oil spills.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea signed 1982 is the forum where states can file claims to extend their economic zones from the 200-nautical mile line (370 kilometres) if they can prove it is a part of a continental shelf.

The US has, however, not signed the UN convention.

Conservation group WWF International doubts if the convention was sufficient and has called for other international treaties.

"It is important that the governments are putting this problem high on the agenda," Neil Hamilton, head of WWF International's Arctic Programme, said.

"It does not matter who owns the Polar region, but it matters how it is managed," he added.

The delegates also discussed environmental protection, joint rescue operations and maritime safety. (dpa)